6-year-old girl ate meth in Seattle man’s car, police say

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ASHLAND, Ore. (KPTV) — A little girl told a sheriff’s deputy she ate something that looked like a rock from a small container in her dad’s car.

Officers said it was meth.

It all started at 5:30 p.m. Monday in a Burger King parking lot in Ashland. Jackson County deputies were called out to 459 S. Valley View Road on reports of a man acting suspiciously.

The man drove away before deputies arrived, but his car was spotted heading north on Interstate 5. Deputies said the man was driving faster than the posted 65 mph speed limit, so the car was pulled over.

Deputies said the driver, Elijah Benbow, 28, of Seattle, was shaking badly, fidgeting and could not stop moving.

The deputy saw a 6-year-old girl in the backseat and asked Benbow to step out of the car.

He denied using any intoxicants, according to investigators, and said his daughter had taken some money and hid it from him, which is why he was acting strangely outside Burger King.

The deputy asked to talk to the girl and her father gave him permission. During the conversation, the girl told the deputy she ate something that looked like a rock and was “sort of gray” in color.

Benbow was arrested and a search of the car revealed 5.37 grams of methamphetamine. The man’s daughter identified the methamphetamine found in a baggy as the same substance she had eaten.

Medical crews were immediately called in to treat the girl. She was taken to the hospital, released and placed in foster care.

Investigators said Benbow failed field sobriety tests. He was booked into the Jackson County Jail on drug charges, as well as child neglect, recklessly endangering and DUII.

His bail is set at $38,000 and additional charges are possible, according to deputies.

25 comments

JoJo

Jimmy

Kittenfuud

Very upsetting. This just shows what meth does to the human brain. The little girl was brave to tell the police (who had probably been vilified by her father over & over) about eating that "rock." I hope there's no serious damage, that this was the first time she had done this, and that the foster home is kind to her.

slimbender

I honestly don't see what the fuss is about with the little girl. She had little to nothing to do with the story. Kids eat stuff all of the time. My 6-month-old is trying to eat her fist right now. Quick, call the news!! It's just some meth. And the hospital? Are you serious??

jv

NAVYTOWN

slimbender

I don't think this person was bothered too much when making the baby. In hindsight, I'm sure he would have done things differently. Like pull out, for example. Although, he may have. Pre cum can be quite potent.

Bob

slimbender

mike welch

slimbender
you need to go get your man hood cut you should never have kids you a complete freek if you think it was ok for a small child to have meth.why not just give them beer and vodka hell let them smoke while we are at it then the next gen. will be evan more worthless than you

slimbender

nickerdew

More than likely "Slimbender" is the type of gutter snipe that not only does the drug but will sit and do it with a pregnant woman. SOOOO many of those around! Tell me, would you watch and do nothing while some dirty spun out junkie (or anyone else for that matter) smothered an infant or child? Then how is it okay for a child, who is not capable of making their own sensible and safe decisions, to consume meth(regardless of what kind of container it is in or what drug it is, but realistically meth is the most damaging of all the intoxicants) OMG you are an IDIOT, a true waste of human flesh but I believe whole heartedly that you believe whole heartedly that you are indeed a waste of space. You have no right to be breathing my oxygen! Now go back to the pond… scum.